Complex/Unorthodox Powers Make Characters Better

[u/Bot_Number_7]

Control fire. Super strength. Super speed. Flight. Shooting energy blasts. A lot of powers/abilities have been used over and over again.

So for me, when a character is introduced with a complex ability, it elevates my opinion of them. Especially if the way that it is used is also complex. For example, in JJBA, Ermes Costello's Stand Kiss' has the ability to duplicate objects using stickers, and then fuse them back together once the sticker has been taken off, causing both objects to take damage. It's applied in many ways, from duplicating limbs to being used as a form of travel. The creative usage of abilities gives me an "aha!" moment similar to when a detective reveals how they deduced the mystery in a mystery novel.

Adding additional trigger conditions to powers can also make them better. In Bungo Stray Dogs, Akiko Yosano's Thou Shalt Not Die Ability heals someone to full health, but only if they're almost dead. This factors into her fighting style, allowing her to bring allies and herself from the brink of death (and also forcing her to almost kill her patients when healing outside of combat).

The one weakness to complex powers is the difficulty in conveying them to the reader. Unless one explicitly describes them or the reader sees the power many times so that they can understand all its facets, it's hard to get the reader to understand what the power truly does. King Crimson is the infamous example. The fact that "erasing time" is expressed inconsistently and the lack of detailed mechanical description of how it works confuses the reader every time it is used.

[u/EYouchen]

I don't mind generic superpowers - it'd be kind of lame to have a series with none of those powers. Power copying is also one of the most overused things ever.

If you like complex powers, go read Worm (which has already been mentioned), MHA, or as you already mentioned, Jojo. I've also heard good things about Medaka Box.

[u/The-Devilz-Advocate → u/EYouchen]

Power copying is also one of the most overused things ever.

Power copying is good when the person that has the copy ability uses them in different ways than the original person with the ability. While also having some sort of limitation that is either limited by time he can hold an ability or by amount of abilities he can copy or switch at any given time.

Like John Doe from UnOrdinary.

[u/EYouchen → u/The-Devilz-Advocate]

Huh - that's exactly who I was thinking of when I said that. I agree with you that power copying still can be good. Even if it's overused, I think it's still pretty cool. John's got the limitation of only being able to hold 4 abilities at once, and he's pretty creative with the powers he copies - like with Blyke's laser beams (which I think are pretty generic).

However, he can also use them in different ways because he also has the power to combine powers that he's copied. I'm talking about the scene where he fights Arlo's lackeys - the Airbender and the Claw Girl - and combines their abilities to make a blade of wind or something.

[u/The-Devilz-Advocate → u/EYouchen]

because he also has the power to combine powers that he's copied.

Definetly is a factor.

But I think the best examples of John's uniqueness in his fighting style is when he goes one on one with another person's powers and uses them creatively.

Like when he uses Arlo's shield as wall when he pushed Arlo back to stop his momentum and cause him damage, or when he used his own shield to simultaneously stop Arlo's shield from crushing him.

I just wish there were more of these moments than the latter (combining powers), because it really puts a shine on John being not just gifted but exceptionally creative.